Teaspoons to Tablespoons (tsp to tbsp)

Answer

one third tbsp

1 US teaspoon equals 1/3 tablespoon (4.929 ml).

UK: 1 metric teaspoon (5 ml) = 1/3 tbsp

Exact: 1 tbsp = 3 tsp

tsp
tbsp
1 tsp = 1/3 tbsp (0.33)

Measurement system

Teaspoons to Tablespoons conversion chart

Teaspoons to tablespoons (US units)
Teaspoons Tablespoons
one eighth teaspoon 0.04167
one quarter teaspoon 0.08333
one half teaspoon 0.1667
three quarters teaspoon one quarter
1 tsp one third
1 and one half teaspoons one half
2 tsp two thirds
3 tsp1
4 tsp 1 and one third
5 tsp 1 and two thirds
6 tsp2
8 tsp 2 and two thirds
9 tsp3
10 tsp 3 and one third
12 tsp4
15 tsp5
16 tsp 5 and one third
18 tsp6
24 tsp8
36 tsp12
48 tsp16
Teaspoons to Tablespoons (tsp to tbsp) Converter
Teaspoons to tablespoons chart from 1/8 tsp to 48 tsp, as a card to save or print.

How to convert teaspoons to tablespoons

tablespoons = teaspoons ÷ 3

Example: 4 tsp ÷ 3 = 1 1/3 tbsp.

Convert teaspoons to tablespoons (tsp to tbsp) instantly. See a chart from 1/8 to 48 teaspoons, get the exact formula and compare US and UK sizes.
On the scale, 1 teaspoon lines up with 1/3 tablespoon; read any other amount straight across.

Divide the teaspoons by 3. A whole result means you can swap in tablespoons, and any remainder stays as teaspoons.

12 teaspoons become 4 tablespoons. 5 teaspoons become 1 2/3 tablespoons, which you measure as 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons. Half teaspoons work the same way: 7 1/2 teaspoons are 2 1/2 tablespoons.

With whole teaspoon counts, any leftover is one or two teaspoons, so you never need a partial tablespoon measure. To go the other way, see tablespoons to teaspoons.

US vs UK teaspoons and tablespoons

In the UK, Canada and New Zealand the spoons are metric, 5 ml and 15 ml, and you still divide by 3. The US teaspoon is 4.93 ml, so for a few spoonfuls either set gives the same result.

Australian tablespoons are bigger. At 20 ml, each one holds 4 teaspoons, so 8 teaspoons of spice make 2 tablespoons in Australian terms, not 2 2/3.

For an Australian recipe, then, divide teaspoons by four instead of three before you reach for the big spoon.

teaspoon and tablespoon sizes by country
Unit Size Used in
US teaspoon4.929 mlUS
metric teaspoon5 mlUK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
US tablespoon14.79 mlUS
metric tablespoon15 mlUK, Canada, New Zealand
Australian tablespoon20 mlAustralia

When do teaspoons add up to tablespoons?

Scaling up is where this conversion saves the most scoops. Doubling 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder gives 3 teaspoons, which is exactly 1 tablespoon.

A seasoning blend shows the savings best. Made six times over, a mix with 1 teaspoon each of cumin, paprika and garlic powder needs 2 tablespoons of each spice: six scoops in all instead of eighteen.

Write the new amounts down before you start measuring. It is easy to lose count after the fourth or fifth scoop.

Teaspoons and tablespoons: questions

Is a teaspoon bigger than a tablespoon?

No, the tablespoon is the bigger spoon. It holds 14.8 ml, against 4.9 ml for a teaspoon, so it carries three times as much of any ingredient.

Is 1 teaspoon half a tablespoon?

No, it is a third of one. You need 1 1/2 teaspoons for half a tablespoon, so a single teaspoon falls short by half a teaspoon. In a halved recipe, that gap matters most for salt and baking powder.

How many tablespoons is 2 teaspoons?

2 teaspoons equal 2/3 tablespoon. Measure it as two level teaspoons rather than trying to fill a tablespoon two thirds of the way, which is hard to judge by eye.

How many tablespoons is 10 teaspoons?

10 teaspoons are 3 1/3 tablespoons. Measure 3 tablespoons and add 1 teaspoon, which takes four scoops instead of ten. Fewer scoops also means fewer chances to lose count.

How many tablespoons is 18 teaspoons?

18 teaspoons make 6 tablespoons. That is also 3/8 cup, so a 1/4 cup measure plus 2 tablespoons does the job; see teaspoons to cups for larger counts.

Related conversions

Sources: Unit definitions: NIST Handbook 44 · Last reviewed · Report an error

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